Foster: Houston plays key role in U.S. - China relations

Strong partnership between two nations can benefit city, state

By Charles C. Foster

Updated 8:49 pm, Thursday, March 6, 2014

Houston's Sino ties loom large as we reflect on the 35th anniversary of the United States establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. From personal relationships with local leaders to bilateral business alliances, where goes Houston and China, so goes the United States.

To understand the intimate link, a little history lesson is key.

Following the establishment of diplomatic relations in February 1979, Deng Xiaoping, China's paramount leader and one of the most significant figures of the 20th century who brought China out of the chaos of the cultural revolution into the modern world, flew on Air Force One to Houston with local Congressman Mickey Leeland.

Xiaoping was hosted by the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the predecessor of the Greater Houston Partnership, at a real Texas-style rodeo in Simonton, west of Houston. After Deng entered on a stagecoach in his Mao suit and put a 10-gallon Stetson on his head, I think all of us recognized at that moment that there had been a seismic shift in U.S.-China relations.

The same year, China established its very first Consulate General in the United States in Houston on Montrose Boulevard, its present location. In 2002, Houston also hosted Chinese President Jiang Zemin at a packed dinner with President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of State James A. Baker III making introductory remarks. Just this past year, Air China commenced a direct Beijing-Houston flight four days a week, which soon will be daily flights due to the demand.

In little more than three decades, China has brought more people out of poverty faster than at any time in history. This has been a remarkable transformation for a country whose vast majority once lived at a bare subsistence level, but today is bursting with economic energy with some of the world's largest, most dynamic and modern cities and infrastructure. As the most populous country in the world, the Chinese economy in the near future will pass the United States and have the largest gross national product in the world.

Similarly, the Houston region has one of the fastest-growing and strongest economies in the United States. Given the growing strength of the Chinese economy, it is critical for Houston to maintain and enhance existing bilateral business, cultural, educational and other ties between Houston and the People's Republic of China. For that reason, U.S.-China Partnerships, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, was formed with the support of the city of Houston, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Asia Society Texas Center and our corporate, educational and cultural community, for the purpose of publicizing and enhancing existing bilateral relations of Houston institutions with China and focusing on the development of a number of events designed to strengthen our Sino connections. While difficult, a goal of U.S.-China Partnerships is for the Houston Zoo to have a pair of pandas, as four other major U.S. cities have accomplished. The formation of U.S.-China Partnerships was announced last week by Mayor Annise Parker.

Just a decade ago, it would have been impossible to predict that China, the recipient of the largest amount of foreign direct investment, is now increasingly making more foreign direct investment in other countries, including the United States, particularly in the Texas energy sectors. Another seismic change that no one would have predicted is the number of tourists flowing out of China to destinations all over the world, who on a per-capita basis, are the highest-spending tourists of any nation. While we have had bumps in our bilateral relations, overall since the opening of China by President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the strength of U.S.-Sino relations on multiple levels has continued to grow steadily.

Former President Bush, having served as one of our first U.S. envoys to China, has consistently said U.S.-Sino relations are our most important bilateral relation. Thus, it is entirely appropriate that he serves as the honorary chair of U.S.-China Partnerships. Our honorary board includes the mayor, retired Houston Rocket Yao Ming, who continues to play a unique role in China and Houston relations, and U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Houston, a member of the House Foreign Relations Committee. Our board is representative of our major corporations, educational and cultural institutions with significant ties to China.

Together, Houston can elevate and expand all of our existing bilateral relations with the biggest and fastest-growing economy to the benefit of Houston and our business, cultural and educational institutions.